Issues: Look at what voters can expect

LIMA — In what is considered by many to be an “off-year” election, voters in the five-county greater Limaland area nonetheless face myriad issues on the Nov. 5 general election ballot that will affect their pocketbooks and the social fabric of their respective communities.

From tax levies for schools, villages and other governmental agencies to the Sunday sales of alcohol and an unlikely marijuana referendum, ballots facing voters in Allen, Putnam, Auglaize, Van Wert and Hardin counties are stocked with issues of all shapes and sizes.

Allen County Children Services is seeking the renewal of a 5-year, .75-mill levy that generates nearly $1.47 million annually for a host of programs and services offered to county residents.

Greg Sowinski, communications coordinator, stressed that the levy renewal is not a new tax and will not increase the tax burden of county residents if approved.

The levy was originally passed by county voters in 1985 and has been replaced and/or renewed six times since then. Since its initial passage, Children Serivces has not relied on funding from the county General Fund.

A fact sheet distributed by the agency says costs of programs under the Children Services umbrella have risen dramatically in recent years.

Voters in Elida will decide if the village council should have the authority to enter into a contract through the Ohio Municipal League to lock in rates for the purchase of electrical power.

Village Administrator Dave Metzger said voter approval of the measure would allow the council to enter into contracts ranging from one to three years in length in an attempt to secure the most favorable rates for village electric customers. Village residents would retain the option to enter into individual agreements and could opt out of the aggregate sale and purchase of electricity, Metzger.

“We’re trying to save the village residents some money,” Metzger said, noting that several surrounding communities have entered into similar agreements. “Speaking for the mayor and the council and myself, we think it’s a good idea to do this.”

The levy is a renewal of the original levy which has been in existence since 1979 and is the tax that supports Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Services in Putnam County, according to Executive Director Jennifer Horstman.

The renewal will provide local financial support for Putnam County’s publicly funded behavioral health recovery system. The community behavioral health system in Putnam County provides affordable, high quality mental health care, alcohol and drug prevention services and treatment for over three thousand individuals of all ages residing in Putnam County.

“The demand for services has dramatically increased over the past 35 years,” Horstman said. “Over the last five years, Pathways Counseling Center has handled more than 3,739 cases for people with mental health and/or substance use issues. That is an 18% increase in clients served in three years.”

The other countywide issue in Putnam County is a 1.25-mill, 5-year renewal of a property tax levy for the countywide 9-1-1 system.

In Hardin County, voters countywide will be asked to approve a 1-mill, 5-year replacement tax levy for criminal justice services.

In one of the more unusual referendums, voters in the tiny Van Wert County of Wren will decide the fate of an issue to determine penalties for the possession of marijuana. The language of the ballot issue asks: “Shall the village of Wren adopt sensible marihuana ordinance which allows the lowest penalty for misdemeanor marijuana offense to the lowest penalty allowed by state law?”

THE ISSUES

ALLEN COUNTY

Countywide

Allen County Children Services is seeking a renewal of a .75-mill, 5-year levy for the purpose of supporting children.

Aldi Inc., Ohio, is seeking voter approval to obtain a D-6 liquor permit for the Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight at 3286 Elida Road, Lima.

Bath A

R&R Takhar Operations, doing business as Marathon, seeking voter approval to obtain a D-6 liquor permit for Sunday sale of wine and mixed beverages between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight at 4179 North West Street, Lima.

Village of Elida

Shall the Village of Elida have the authority to aggregate the retail electric loads located in the Village of Elida, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those customers the sale and purchase of electricity, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?

PUTNAM COUNTY

Countywide

0.7-mill, 5-year renewal of a property tax levy for the Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug treatment and prevention services

1.25-mill, 5-year renewal of a property tax levy for the countywide 9-1-1 system.